This edited home movie footage captures the excitement surrounding Apollo 11, the first lunar-landing mission. First, Houston filmmaker Charles Burwell displays how the majority of Americans experienced the event—through their television set. Burwell records his television as it transmits several live broadcasts related to Apollo 11, such as: its launch from John F. Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39, on July 16, 1969; footage of the landing site shot aboard the Lunar Module; and finally, the historic walk on the Moon by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20. Roughly 125 million Americans watched the televised event. Next, Burwell films the parade held in downtown Houston on August 16 to welcome home and celebrate the Apollo 11 crew. Up to 300,000 people attended the festivities, including Frank Sinatra, who served as the parade’s master of ceremonies. (According to The Houston Chronicle, Sinatra took to calling then-Mayor Louie Welch “Louie Baby.”) Armstrong, Aldrin, and their crewmember Michael Collins all pass by the camera seated on cars and waving to the crowd.
Date Filmed: July 1969; August 16, 1969
Filmed by: Charles Burwell
Program Duration: 03:54
Media: 16mm Film
Audio: N/A
Film Stock: Yellow Eastman
Film Stock Edge Code Date: N/A